Melbourne/ New Delhi: During the official visit to Australia, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi participated in high-level bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The visit included discussions with the Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese and senior representatives from government, industry, education, and skills institutions, focusing on enhancing cooperation across defence and security, critical minerals, skill development, technical, vocational education and training (TVET), renewable energy, higher education, and technology.
The visit marked a significant step in advancing people-to-people ties, workforce mobility, academic collaboration, and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Several key agreements, memorandums of understanding, letters of intent, and institutional partnerships were announced, reflecting a shared commitment to building future-ready capabilities, promoting innovation, and supporting sustainable economic growth.
Among the major outcomes were the renewal of the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (JDDSC), collaboration on a Centre of Excellence in Mining and Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS), strengthening of TVET quality assurance through cooperation between NCVET and ASQA, operationalisation of a Rooftop Solar Training Academy, expanded geoscience collaboration between Geoscience Australia and the Geological Survey of India, and approvals enabling Flinders University and Victoria University to establish campuses in India.
These initiatives collectively underscore the growing depth and breadth of India–Australia cooperation and reinforce the shared vision of both nations to develop a resilient, skilled, and innovation-driven partnership for the future.
Here’s the summary of the key outcomes announced during the visit in relation to skill development, education and entrepreneurship.
MoU on a Centre of Excellence in Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS)
India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Technical and Further Education (TAFE), Government of Western Australia, to establish a Centre of Excellence in Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Bhubaneswar. The centre is intended to build academic and vocational excellence in sub-domains of mining operations, mine safety, mineral processing and mine machinery, and will support exchange of students and trainees between the new Bhubaneswar centre and TAFE Western Australia.
Letter of Intent between NCVET and ASQA on Vocational Education Quality
India’s National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) signed a Letter of Intent recognizing the importance of quality assurance in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The agreement is intended to strengthen regulatory frameworks in vocational training, support co-development and alignment of occupational standards in priority sectors, and enable capacity building through official exchanges, joint workshops and research.
Operationalisation of the Rooftop Solar Training Academy
The Rooftop Solar Training Academy has been established and operationalised at Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, in collaboration with Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), India’s Sector Skills Council for Green Jobs (SSCGJ), and ReNew. The academy aims to train approximately 2,000 women and youth as solar technicians, installers and helpers, supporting the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana launched by the Prime Minister in January 2024 and India’s green energy journey.
MoU between Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI)
Geoscience cooperation was enhanced through a Memorandum of Understanding between Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Builds on the MoU on Scientific and Technical Cooperation signed in 2015. The renewed agreement is aimed at adoption of advanced exploration methodologies, capacity building and skill development, and technological upgradation and modernisation of GSI’s infrastructure.
MoU between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and University of Melbourne
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and University of Melbourne signed a Memorandum of Understanding that aims to establish linkages between both institutions for future collaboration including collaborative research programs towards drug target identification, trainee programs, and faculty exchange Programs
The Letters To Universities
Further strengthening education ties, a Letter of Intent was handed over to Flinders University for establishing its campus in Bengaluru, while a Letter of Approval was handed over to Victoria University permitting the university to establish and operate its campus in Gurugram. These developments are expected to expand access to international higher education opportunities within India.
Another outcome of the visit that focused capacity building was the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (JDDSC), which renews the existing Joint Declaration on Security signed in 2009. The declaration identifies interoperability of forces, capacity building, maritime domain cooperation, defence industrial collaboration, cyber security and technology, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and a unified approach in multilateral forums including UNCLOS, ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as priority areas of cooperation.
Editor’s note: This release reflects publicly reported outcomes of the Third India-Australia Annual Summit as of July 10, 2026. Readers are advised to verify figures and quotations against the official joint statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office of India and the Australian Prime Minister’s Office before further syndication.
